Automatic sprinkler.



A. M. LEWIS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1910.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

22333173: 11- LEWI OI HHLADE IH A, NNSYLV NIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- yArron r, srItI xpEa oomrA Y, or rnrnAnELrHlA, PENNSYLVANIA, A conroearlcr or swa ms AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 17, 1910. Serial No. 567,489.

Patented Dec. 23,1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. Lilwis, a citizen of the United States, residmg at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Sprmklers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that particular class of automatic fire extinguishing apparatus known as sprinklers, in which a predetermined rise of temperature causes melting and subsequent separation of the two parts of a link, thereby permitting the opening of a valve through which liquid under pressure is delivered to extinguish the fire causing the elevation of temperature.

One object of the invention is to provide an automatic sprinkler of the general type shown in a patent granted to me October 15, 1907, No. 868,459, which shall be particularly adapted for use in protecting the outsides of buildings where it is desired that the water shall be thrown in a definite direction, and that against the wall of the building.

It is further desired that the sprinkler shall be of such a construction as will most efficiently direct the water delivered from its discharge pipe so as to most surely and rapidly extinguish a fire in its vicinity; the construction being designed to cause a portion of the water to be delivered in a conoentrated stream while the remainder is more or less spread.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter 'set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved sprinkler; Fig. 2, is a vertical section taken through the discharge pipe and the link; Fig. 3, is a vertical section on the line a-a, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, is a horizontal section on the line 6-6, Fig. 3.

From the above drawings itwill be seen that the frame of the sprinkler consists of a tubular base portion 1 having a discharge orifice and provided witha threaded portion 2 for connection to the pipes of a sprinkler system or other source of water supply. Two arms 3 extend from opposite sides of this part 1 and gradually approach each other until they are about two and a half or three inches from the base, when they are joined by a deflector plate 4. The plate lies m a plane which is substantially at right angles to the line of thetubular passage through the base 1 and projects from one side only of said line and of the plane of the arms 3. Said arms are also connected by a web 5 which is curved outwardly from their lane on that side thereof opposite the de ector 4, as it extends from said deflector toward the discharge orifice, being widely flared adjacent the latter. The curved edge of this guide section between the two arms 3 has an inwardly projecting flange 6 designed to prevent any splashing or back flow of water in a direction away from the deflectortoward or past the base portion 1.

From each of the arms 3, on the side thereof adjacent and just above the deflector 4, there projects a guide plate 7, which in the present instance is pointed or tooth shaped. Each of these guide plates is spaced away from the deflector and its inner surface is preferably though not necessarily so made as to form a forward continuation of the interior curved surface of the guide web 5.

The discharge orifice of the base 1 is normally closed by, a valve 8 having one or more washers 9 interposed between it and the seat provided by said base, and is retained in position by a pair of levers 10 and 11 having relatively long outwardly projecting arms joined by a pair of links 12 and 13 held together by a body of solder 14 which is fusible at a predetermined temperature to permit separation of said levers. lever 10 has one arm in engagement with the valve 8 and a second arm in engagement with an arm of the lever 11, while this latter has an arm in engagement with an adjustable screw 15. Thearrangementand construction of these levers and their associated parts is such that the long arms of said levers are under stress so that they tend to separate, but are held from so doing by the fusible link formed by the parts 12, 13 and 14, in the well known manner.

Under operating conditions the sprinkler is connected to the pipes of a suitable fire extinguishing system and when the fusible link is exposed to a temperature ator above that at which its metal 14 melts, the two links 12 and 13 separate, thereby permitting The the levers and 11 to become disengaged from each other and from the valve 8 and screw 15. Fluid under pressure, from the fire extinguishing system is then at liberty to pass out of the discharge orifice of the base 1, from which it is delivered in a more or less concentrated stream against the guideweb 5, but as above noted is prevented from splashing or flowing baclrwardly over the top edge of this, by means of the flange 6. One portion of the current of water is kept from spreading by the two side guide plates 7, which tend to direct it in a concentrated stream substantially at right angles to its original line of flow, while the re niainder of the water current strikes the deflector 4c, by which it is spread in a sheet at right angles to the line of the discharge orifice and passes in a fan shaped form under the two guide plates 7. It will thus be noted that the device described delivers a more or less compact stream of liquid at high velocity and in a line substantially at right angles to the line of its original flow from the discharge orifice, while in addition there is a horizontal fan shaped sheet 01 water delivered adjacent to and onopposite sides of the first noted and more compact stream.

It is of course obvious that the sprinkler may be placed either with the deflector above the other parts or below the same, as may be found most convenient, but in any case the fusible link is preferably placed so as to project toward the wall or window of a building from which it is expected the heated current of air or gas to be delivered in the event of a fire and toward which it is wished to direct the streams of water from the sprinkler.

While the device is particularly desi ed for use on the outside of buildings w ere water is to be thrown against the wall, it may be also used with great advantage in the interiors of buildings wherever it is desired that a stream of water shall be concentrated over a definite area and at the sametime a broad sheet of water shall be discharged over areas on both sides of that first named. I

I claim Y F A sprinkler head having adischarge pipe; a pair of arms connected thereto;la guide web connecting said arms and projecting on one side of the plane thereof in position to change the direction of flow of the water escaping from said pipe; 3. deflector opposite the discharge pipe mounted in a plane substantially at right angles to the direction of water flow; two parallel tooth-shaped guide plates projecting from that side of said arms opposite the guide web and spaced away from the deflector in positions to concentrate the current of water after it has left the discharge pipe; a valve for normally closing said pipe; and temperature responsive-means for normally holding the valve in its closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR M. LEWIS.

Witnesses E. J OHNBON, E. Base. 

